Chapter 14
Evelyn agreed to meet Preston.
Sophie did not attend.
Good.
Half siblings.
A phrase neither liked yet.
They sat in my library.
I stayed only because Evelyn asked.
Preston began:
“I knew about you for nine years.”
Evelyn nodded.
“I know.”
“I hated you.”
Another nod.
“Why?”
He explained.
Father’s poison.
Mother’s guilt.
His own entitlement.
No excuses.
Then Evelyn asked:
“Did you ever want to meet me?”
That surprised him.
He thought.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“The first year.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“I was afraid I’d like you.”
There.
Real.
If he liked Evelyn, resentment became harder.
And resentment had become useful.
It justified controlling Diane.
So he kept Evelyn abstract.
Secret sister.
Castellano princess.
Evidence of betrayal.
Anything except woman.
Evelyn almost smiled.
“I’m disappointing in person.”
He laughed.
First shared sound.
Then she became serious.
“You put your hands on my daughter.”
His smile disappeared.
“Yes.”
“That matters more to me than any secret about our mother.”
“Yes.”
Good.
She did not forgive him.
But she heard him.
Before leaving Preston said:
“I’m sorry I made you responsible for something you didn’t even know happened.”
That was the correct apology.
Evelyn answered:
“I appreciate that.”
Not “It’s okay.”
May you like
Good.
Nothing about it had been okay.
